Conduit: recorded his third win at Group 1 level in Ascot's King George
PICTURE: Edward Whitaker/racingpostpix.comConduit 7-1 for Arc after King George victory
Report: Ascot, Saturday
King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes (Group 1) 1m4f, 3yo+
CONDUIT, a well supported 13-8 favourite, led home a sensational Sir Michael Stoute one-two-three in the Betfair King George VI And Queen Elizabeth Stakes.
No trainer has ever saddled the first three home in the Group 1 contest and Conduit became the first St Leger winner to lift the King George in over 50 years.
Ladbrokes make the King George winner 7-1 for the Qatar Prix de l'Arc de Triomphe at Longchamp in October, while William Hill make Conduit 8-1 (from 14-1) with Paddy Power going the same price from 10-1.
The Aidan O’Brien-trained trio of Rockhampton, Frozen Fire and Golden Sword made the contest a true test of stamina from the off, with the former opening up a sizeable lead down the back straight.
However, it was the Stoute trio who were all travelling within themselves as the field swept into the straight. Ask and Tartan Bearer played their hand first, but Breeders’ Cup Turf winner Conduit raced up to the leaders at the furlong marker.
The three came very close together as they battled out the finish and it was Conduit who started to gain the upper hand close home. At the line he had around a length and a half to spare over 7-2 shot Tartan Bearer in second with Ask a fraction behind him in third.
The stewards were quick to call an inquiry but allowed the result to stand. However, Ryan Moore, rider of Conduit, was hit with a three-day ban for careless riding.
A delighted Stoute said: "It's nice to watch, especially when the third got back up.
"I'm very proud of them - they've all run great races. The others [Tartan Bearer and Ask] are top-class horses. They are lovely, sound horses.
"It ranks very high among them [his career achievements] - this is a bit special.
"We've been very lucky. We've been one-two in the Guineas and one-two in the Breeders' Cup.
"We werealso one-two in the Juddmonte [International at York] so it's nice to watch."
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